Comments for People First Blog http://www.peoplefirst.ca/blog Thoughts on Leadership Development and Education Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:53:23 -0400 hourly 1 Comment on ‘We’re not the best, but we’re better than the rest’ by Jesse C. http://www.peoplefirst.ca/blog/?p=25&cpage=1#comment-6 Jesse C. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:53:23 +0000 http://www.peoplefirst.ca/blog/?p=25#comment-6 First off, it's not hard to be the best Dad. I actually have a mug and a t-shirt which proclaims that I am the World's Best, although I really thought that I just had the nationals covered. Having said that, I completely agree with this post. Malcolm Gladwell posits in his latest book Outliers that beyond a certain intelligence threshold, there is little difference between the success potential of "geniuses" (or is that genii?) A person with a 190 IQ is not destined to be more successful than a 150. Once we achieve a certain level of ability or education or status, there are a lot of other actors on whether or not we succeed. Not the least of which is our own will, preparedness and desire. As a sort-of St. Andrews alumni (I passed through while in Grade 9, but made a decision for myself that the "best" opportunity for me wasn't the private school but the public one in my hometown that i had left behind like a jilted lover), I fully appreciate how it's dangerous to pool too many resources in pursuit of all the marbles in certain areas. I've learned from personal experience: balance is way better. Great post, Peter - thanks for bringing back some memories :) First off, it’s not hard to be the best Dad. I actually have a mug and a t-shirt which proclaims that I am the World’s Best, although I really thought that I just had the nationals covered.

Having said that, I completely agree with this post. Malcolm Gladwell posits in his latest book Outliers that beyond a certain intelligence threshold, there is little difference between the success potential of “geniuses” (or is that genii?) A person with a 190 IQ is not destined to be more successful than a 150. Once we achieve a certain level of ability or education or status, there are a lot of other actors on whether or not we succeed. Not the least of which is our own will, preparedness and desire.

As a sort-of St. Andrews alumni (I passed through while in Grade 9, but made a decision for myself that the “best” opportunity for me wasn’t the private school but the public one in my hometown that i had left behind like a jilted lover), I fully appreciate how it’s dangerous to pool too many resources in pursuit of all the marbles in certain areas. I’ve learned from personal experience: balance is way better.

Great post, Peter – thanks for bringing back some memories :)

]]> Comment on Adversity Reveals Character by Jesse C. http://www.peoplefirst.ca/blog/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-5 Jesse C. Wed, 13 May 2009 15:01:49 +0000 http://www.peoplefirst.ca/blog/?p=1#comment-5 It's interesting how we respond to adversity. Perhaps it's a measurement of leadership when we can see it as a challenge as opposed to a reason to quit. But when I hear about people overcoming huge personal loss, such as your reference to Tony Dungy, I am amazed—and inspired. Coincidentally, there is a similar Canadian program. A family lost their son to suicide and now is now working to ensure that others don't experience the same preventable tragedy. It's called <a href="http://www.cameronhelps.ca" title="Link to CameronHelps.ca" rel="nofollow">Cameron Helps</a> and a neighbour of mine is a big supporter. Worth checking out. Great post! It’s interesting how we respond to adversity. Perhaps it’s a measurement of leadership when we can see it as a challenge as opposed to a reason to quit. But when I hear about people overcoming huge personal loss, such as your reference to Tony Dungy, I am amazed—and inspired.

Coincidentally, there is a similar Canadian program. A family lost their son to suicide and now is now working to ensure that others don’t experience the same preventable tragedy. It’s called Cameron Helps and a neighbour of mine is a big supporter. Worth checking out.

Great post!

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